Michigan "a Dream Come True" for VanBergen

Sam Webb

04/05/2006

Whitehall Mi., TE/DE Ryan VanBergen wasn't expecting what transpired when he arrived in Ann Arbor yesterday. Receiving a scholarship offer from the school he has always dreamed about almost caused him to "pass out" with excitement. The newest Wolverine gave GBW a call this morning to discuss his big day, the position he was recruited for, his relationships with the players & coaches, and more.

Ryan VanBergen took his first steps toward fulfilling a lifelong dream yesterday
when he accepted an offer to become a Michigan Wolverine. He still can't quite
get over how quickly everything transpired. Apparently Coach Carr almost got
an indication of just how surprised the youngster actually was.

"My family was sitting in Coach Carr's office and we talked for about
40 minutes," Van Bergen said. "About 30 minutes into our conversation
he told me that he had a scholarship for me. My brother saw me almost pass out
(laughing). I went to their summer camp as sophomore going into my junior season
and I actually met Coach Carr then. I was the outstanding defensive lineman
at the camp. From then on they invited me down to some games. I could tell that
they were interested, but that they were going to offer was a complete shock
because it never seemed like they were more interested than they were at any
other point. I had no clue it was coming. It was way unexpected."

"I did not commit right away because my mom had never seen the facilities
down there before," he continued. "It had always been my brother,
me, and my dad. After talking to coach Carr and thanking him for the offer,
we went down to the new student academic center, which is amazing. I got to
meet the professor of psychology, John Hagan. That is what I want to major in.
Michigan really rolled out the red carpet in that sort of sense. My mom was
really impressed with the academic facilities and the campus. They took her,
my dad, and my brother on a tour of the campus while I sat in on a D-line meeting.
Coach Stripling introduced me to every single guy there and they all were very
welcoming. They gave me the time of day, which was surprising considering the
caliber players they were. Then we went to practice and I met up with my mom
and dad after they got done with the tour. I told them I was ready to commit
and they gave me the thumbs up."

While it's clear the academics at Michigan were a major selling point for the
VanBergen's, it's also obvious that Ryan's relationship with his future coach,
Steve Stripling, was a significant factor as well.

"That started at camp," VanBergen said regarding his bond with Michigan's
defensive line coach. "That was my first time ever playing the defensive
end spot. That's why I was kind of nervous going into camp. It was a brand new
position for me but my coach was having me make that transition for my team
in high school. I went in as a d-end and I had never played d-end before. I
wasn't the best at the beginning. I had to learn stances and stuff, but I'm
really responsive to Coach Stripling's coaching techniques. By the end of the
camp I was one of the top 5 or top 10 defensive linemen there with seniors and
everything. I got to know him and his coaching styles and I've been in contact
with him since June of last year. I've really gotten to know him and to like
him as a coach. Right now defensive end is the primary position. Coach Stripling
told me that they are also maybe giving me a look at tight end. I really don't
mind either side of the ball. I'm overjoyed to know that I'm playing defensive
line. If they want me to play tight end, that's awesome too. Pretty much wherever
I can help out. I'm just looking forward to playing! (Laughing)."

VanBergen reeled in 20 catches for 275 yards and four touchdowns at his tight
end slot and 59 solo tackles, 32 tackles for loss and seven sacks from his defensive
end post. That impressive versatility likely played a major role in his early
offer from the Maize and Blue. That said, as impressive as his physical abilities
are, VanBergen doesn't feel that's his strongest suit as a player.

"The strength of my game would be my knowledge," he said. "I
go over my own game tape without the coaches there. I look at both myself and
the other guys. If the offensive lineman I'm going up against can't step left,
I'm going left against him. I've developed a knowledge for the game that I think
is something that kind of sets me apart from other people. I know exactly what
I'm going to do going into a game based on what I've seen through film."

Now that he knows exactly where he is going to college, there's seemingly less
of reason to attend the various combines and camps that are offered over the
spring and summer. VanBergen, however, indicated that he still may participate
in a few.

"I might still go down to the Nike camp in Columbus on May 5th to see
some of the guys at my position and see what maybe I have to work for,"
he said. "I'll definitely be going back down to the Michigan camp because
I love the atmosphere down there obviously."

Be on the lookout for Scout.com video of VanBergen
in action very soon.

Quotable:

On whether he knows any of the current Michigan players:

"I know Terrance Taylor. He's from Muskegon which is just down the road
from me. I threw shot and disc against him. We also ran a 200 against each other
at Muskegon and tore up the track (laughing). He didn't call me out specifically…
he called any thrower that wanted to race him out. The throwers were all just
kind of standing around because we were down. I'm a little sophomore and I said,
'hey, I'll race you,'because I'm thinking this dude is big, you know. I had
never run the 200 before. That was the first time I ever ran one. I caught in
the corner…I was in lane one and he was in lane two. But once I caught
him I started tiring out and all of sudden I hear him grunting behind me so
it was more a sprint for my life than it was a sprint to the finish (laughing).
That's probably the most remembered 200 at Muskegon right now."